January 22, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: Eron Shosteck
Phone: 202-218-7220
WASHINGTON -- Members of the American Bus Association collectively donated $45,000 to the Yellow Ribbon Fund charity as part of the Capital Region 2010 “Marketplace Gives Back” program designed to show the ABA’s gratitude to its host region’s hospitality.
Over the past several years, ABA has made it a priority to give something back to the Marketplace host region community by selecting a worthy charitable cause through its “MGB” program, raising a total of more than $115,000 for charities in the cities who’ve hosted the event.
Past recipients of the “Marketplace Gives Back” charitable cause have included Carolina’s Breast Friends (Charlotte 2009), and the Polar Plunge to raise money for cancer research in honor of Virginia Beach CVB employee Daisy Cohan, a victim of breast cancer (Virginia Beach 2008). The Carolina Breast Friends were able to close on Project Pink House just recently to serve as a home that will be a sanctuary for the transition to treatment and hopefully a cure.
For the Yellow Ribbon Fund at the Capital Region Marketplace 2010 – which brought together tourism and travel partners from DC, Maryland and Virginia to crate a tri-regional host destination -- celebrated singer Tony Orlando sang his signature ballad “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree” as part of the show’s Opening Ceremonies. His presence on-stage and later among the delegates in the audience and at the YRF booth on the show floor helped to encourage many of the 3,000+ delegates in attendance to support the charity. The Yellow Ribbon Fund helps the families of recuperating soldiers and the soldiers themselves recover.
Long before “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree,” became a hit, yellow ribbons or scarves were traditionally used to welcome soldiers home. Since the United States ended its involvement in Vietnam, Americans have embraced the practice of using a yellow ribbon to symbolize the return of servicemen and women from war.
"Tying 'Yellow Ribbons’ has become a powerful symbol of hope, homecoming and support for our troops,” Orlando said. “I’m proud to honor those serving our country." “Marketplace Gives Back is about showing ABA’s gratitude to its host regions each year, and we thank DC, MD and VA in 2010 for their hospitality and for helping raise a record sum for one show,” said ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso. “It’s the ABA way of saying thank you to the brave men and women who defend our freedom every day.” For more information, visit http://www.yellowribbonfund.org and http://www.buses.org.